To go by the board
Meaning
To be lost, discarded, or completely abandoned, especially when a plan or idea fails.
Origin
The phrase "to go by the board" originates from the perilous world of sailing ships. In a violent storm or during fierce naval combat, a ship's masts, spars, or rigging could be broken and swept overboard, crashing "by the board"—that is, alongside or over the side of the ship itself. Such an event was catastrophic, signaling the loss of crucial equipment and often the end of the voyage or battle. This dramatic image of essential parts being irrevocably lost to the sea transformed into a powerful metaphor for any plan, idea, or possession that is completely ruined, discarded, or abandoned.
Examples
- Our carefully planned project budget went by the board when unexpected material costs skyrocketed.
- After the scandal broke, the CEO's reputation and all his previous achievements went by the board almost overnight.